Purpose

• The purpose of the National Flood Insurance Program is to give homeowners who live in flood-prone areas access to insurance that will pay for repairs or rebuilding following a flood disaster. Private insurance companies don't include the high risk of floods or other disasters, such as earthquakes, in basic homeowners insurance policies. The NFIP certifies local and regional claims adjusters to perform the inspections needed to determine how much money homeowners who have flood insurance deserve for their claims. Certification ensures accuracy and fairness throughout the program without forcing the NFIP to have its own team of professional adjusters who would only be called upon in the event of a flood.
  
  

Process

• Claims adjusters who wish to get work estimating damage values for the National Flood Insurance Program must first have previous experience in the field. The NFIP doesn't provide basic training or offer entry-level work. Adjusters also need to attend workshops that include special NFIP and flood-specific training. After completing one or more workshops, an adjuster may fill out an application online or through the mail. Adjusters with NFIP certification must attend workshops every year to retain their certifications.
  
  

Types

• The National Flood Insurance Program grants certification for adjustors in give different areas of inspection. Individual adjusters can choose to work toward certification in any or all of the five areas. The five areas are residential dwellings, mobile homes and trailers, small commercial property, large commercial property and condominiums. Certification for large commercial property and condominiums require adjusters to have five years of property adjusting experience. Adjusters must also have experience with writing damage estimates over half a million dollars.
  
  

Obligations

• Certified flood insurance adjusters serve as claims adjusters in other capacities until there is a flood and homeowners make claims against their NFIP policies. The NFIP calls on certified adjusters who must visit the damaged property and make a visual assessment. The adjuster submits a report to the NFIP that includes a damage estimate as well as a rationale for obtaining it. Certified adjusters follow an NFIP-designed inspection procedure that includes checking for roof or siding damage, noting water lines and listing damage to all parts of the home that appear directly related to the flooding.